Dreaming of tomorrow

The combined International Conference for the Contemporary Education and Global Tchoukball Development at the New Sun Yat-Sen University (NSYSU) in Kaohsiung earlier this month was an eye-opener to how other countries have used the educational system to stretch the boundaries of sport. Professor Chin-Hsung Kao, MBA, PhD president of the National Taiwan Sport University in Taipei, traveled to NSYSU, site of the World Beach Tchoukball Championship, shared his findings tallying and comparing the advances of some of the top sports universities in the world. The diversity of their accomplishments impressed the more than 300 delegates, educators and students present.

His talk, entitled “Reflections on the Missions and Strategies from Global Top Sport Universities” examined the most outstanding institutions from Germany, Hungary, Taiwan, Korea and Japan. The German Sport University Cologne was ranked 10th in world in 2016 and has been around since 1920. The University of Physical Education, Budapest, established in 1925, was ranked 50th. The Korean National Sport University, inaugurated in 1976, has been responsible for generating the country’s recent surge in Olympic medals. The National Institute on Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Japan has pioneered in aquatic sports research. His own National Taiwan Sport University, built in 1987, guarantees employment for 75 to 90 percent of its graduates within three years, even in the highly competitive sports environment in Taiwan.

Korea National Sport University, for example, is integrated with their national training center, ranked number one in the world. This translates research and study into practicable gains in real international competition. Thanks to their cooperation with actual athletes, South Korea won its one hundredth Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro. For its part, the National Institute on Fitness and Sports in Japan built the first research-based swimming pool, where they could study aquadynamics in a controlled environment, and lessen resistance and improve the efficiency of their swimmers. In 2004, Japan won its first women’s Olympic gold in swimming.

Dr. Chin-Hsung also spoke proudly about NTSU. He said the school develops national pride through winning in international sport competitions. All students are competent and qualified to serve and contribute through sport, as coaches, trainers or teachers. NTSU also promotes community development through formation of sports clubs, introduction of sport business, and creates health promotion activities. He also enumerated the university’s key programs. First is scientific, evidence based talent identification. They compare performance and extrapolate potential to determine which athletes will do well on the various national teams. NTSU also plans athlete career development. They not only develop athletes, they prepare them for their future after their competitive careers are over, a figurative cradle to retirement plan. Knowledge management is often mentioned in Taiwanese sports programs, as they value consolidation of learning and get value from all experience as much as possible.

Furthermore, they provide quality assurance for teaching and learning. Good enough is not enough. There is also structure for feedback for constant improvement. There are also abundant opportunities for international study and exchange with other learning institutions. Thankfully, corporate support allows for many of these programs to be sustainable. The Taiwanese government also has a strong policy on sport as a source of national pride.

Business groups follow suit, strongly backing various sports, with full awareness of the success brought about by institutionalized professionalism. Lastly, the university’s non-profit approach gives it additional credibility.

NTSU also provides All-English teaching programs, publishes international publications, and implements capstone programs before graduation. They also have an annual Olympic day where everyone competes. There are also programs for indigenous student learning, so that no one is left behind. NTSU also provides 100,000 disabled students in Taiwan with Adapted Physical Activity at par with regularly-abled Taiwanese. Kids participation is also a priority program, and the elderly are provided muscle training, as studies have shown their brains do not deteriorate when they are provided regular fitness regimens. The university is also an active member of the International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA). Students are given Global Outdoor Athletic Leadership (GOAL) which are all-encompassing, making them well-rounded individuals.